volunteer

Volunteers are the heart of our program, we simply couldn't exist without them. This year we are excited to provide a variety of volunteer opportunities. If you are interested in volunteering, please read the following position descriptions, fill out our volunteer interest form and our volunteer coordinator will get back to you as soon as possible.

Internships are also available. Please download our internship flyer for more information on applying for these positions.

Here is what past volunteers have said about our program:

"I really enjoyed volunteering. I felt that I learned a little about wildlife and I enjoyed the people I worked with. Great Experience"

“Thanks for a great and informative summer!"

“Thank you it was a great experience”

"A fantastic opportunity..."

"I enjoyed it a lot and I feel like I learned alot."

Animal Care

Animal care volunteers are needed May through August.

General animal care volunteer:

Time commitment: one 4hr shift per week
Qualifications: no experience necessary
Training required: general wildlife training (or refresher training for returning volunteers)

Duties:

• Diet preparation/Animal feeding
• Cage cleaning
• Record keeping
• Assisting head volunteer to facilitate animal care
• General wildlife room clean-up/ dishes

Head volunteer:

Time commitment: one 6hr shift per week
Qualifications: some previous wildlife experience is preferred
Training required: general wildlife training (or refresher training for returning volunteers) and advanced wildlife training

Duties:

• Daily updating of animal charts
• Admission of new wildlife
• Assessment of patient condition/ deciding on plan of action
• Consultation for veterinary care if needed
• Administration of medication
• Raptor/ Wildlife handling
• Maintain supply inventory
• Contact foster care givers when necessary
• Record keeping

Supply Delivery Volunteers:

Time commitment: variable
Qualifications: no experience necessary, reliable vehicle required
Training: no special training for this position

Duties:

Supply delivery volunteers help wildlife by transporting supplies donated from local businesses to the wildlife center. The amount of time commitment will depend on how many people volunteer; one year, for example, produce volunteers each did about two supply trips per month. There will be a schedule telling you when and where to obtain supplies. This requires a small time commitment that can be done on the way to a weekly animal care shift, or you can just be a supply delivery volunteer.

Foster Care Volunteers:

Time commitment: variable
Qualifications: no experience necessary
Training: general wildlife training (or refresher training for returning volunteers) and foster care training from lead foster care provider

Duties:

Most of the wildlife that we care for consists of orphaned or displaced baby animals. When we receive these animals at a very young age they have some special needs that must be cared for outside of regular working hours (8-6:30 pm, 7 days/week). Very young birds of all varieties and unweaned mammals fall into this category. Baby birds are fed as often as every 20-60 minutes from around 7 am – 11 pm and then they sleep through the night. Baby mammals need to eat around the clock. Obviously, a foster care volunteer must have a schedule that allows for this time commitment. As soon as the baby animals can be weaned or can go for longer periods without food, they are moved back into the wildlife room for care.

Foster care volunteers are divided up by the species that they are interested in fostering. Each of the major species that we see will have a lead foster care provider that will provide you with the information, training, and supplies needed to care for that type of animal. If you choose to be a foster caregiver for more than one species you will need to be trained for each species individually. Some examples of the species we may need to foster are: squirrels, opossums, rabbits, songbirds, and doves. The time commitment for being a foster parent will depend on how many of each animal we receive and on how many foster parents volunteer. You can find the names, phone numbers, and e-mails for the lead foster care providers in the directory section. Feel free to contact them for more detailed information about this volunteer opportunity.

Volunteer Committees

The following is a description of the committees that have been formed to provide for the many needs of our growing wildlife program. Each of the committees has a head that coordinates its efforts. The committee heads are also a part of the steering committee whose purpose is to help make larger financial decisions and to plan for the future of the program. All volunteers, regardless of previous experience, are invited to join these committees!

Animal Care Coordination:

• Researches/develops new diets
• Develops practices for constantly improving animal care

Building/construction:

• Maintenance of animal cages
• Develops plans for new building projects
• Acquisition of building materials and qualified help
• Coordination of general volunteers in building and facility maintenance projects

Community Outreach & Education:

• Writes meeting notes and keeps the wildbunch informed about events
• Manages Webpage
• Arranges community/school education opportunities
• Coordinates volunteers to staff a wildlife information table at community events

Fundraising:

• Plans fundraising efforts
• Solicits community involvement in fundraisers
• Coordinates volunteers to help run fundraisers

Veterinary Care Coordination

• Coordinates efforts with the Emergency Clinic for Animals (ECA)
• Coordinates veterinary care

Volunteer training:

• Writes/Updates volunteer manual
• Schedules volunteer training sessions
• Develops/Leads volunteer training sessions for general and head volunteers
• Organizes continuing education materials/opportunities

Volunteer Interest Form

	Keep Current! Subscribe to FLWC's email list.
	Email:
	Browse Archives at groups.google.com